Electric sign.



No 869,468. I PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907. w. WALLAOE. ELECTRIC SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1906 WITNESSES NV TOR aa wcoa Z1; 6

I I 1 5 W lnm ATTORNEY.

THE cams PETEH! 20., wAsnmumN. 0. c4

WILLIAM WALLACE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed July 2,1906- Serial No. 324,297.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WALLACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in electric signs, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective arrangement for mechanically and electrically connecting the letters of such a sign to the supporting board and parallel circuits whereby each letter may be quickly attached or detached or adjusted to the desired position relative to the other letters without the necessity of wiring up the letters to the circuit.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in whieh Figure 1 is an elevation of my improvement representingtwo letters attached to the supporting board, the face of one of the letters being sectioned away so as to show the wiring of the lamp sockets therein. Fig. 2 a vertical section of one of the letters and the supporting board.

Referring to these drawings, A represents the supporting board upon the back of which is secured the parallel circuit strips B, one at the upper edge and the other at the bottom edge, and these strips are connected in the usual manner with the wires of an electric light circuit.

C represents the letters, which may be of any shape or design, each consisting of a casing in which is located the lamp sockets D, these sockets being connected by the parallel wires E with the terminal blocks F, one for the positive and another for the negative wires.

Each terminal block is adapted to receive the threadr l I I l l vided with the thumb holds I, by means of which they may be manipulated.

In practice the supporting board is made of the proper length for the sign and is secured in place upon the wall or surface in such manner that there will be sullicient space between its rear surface and the wall to permit of the manipulationof the binding screws. The letters are attached to the board by being placed in proper position and the binding screws run into the terminal blocks until their washer heads are bound firmly against the circuit strips, which will not only support the letters in place but will also form electrical connections between the lamp circuits and the strips, as will be readily understood, thus avoiding the necessity of first attaching the letters to the supporting board and then wiring the lamp sockets to the circuit strips which has heretofore been the practice. I

By the use of my improvement :1 large amount of time, labor and annoyance is saved in erecting or changing an electric sign as the letters may be quickly attached both mechanically and electrically to the supporting board and may be as quickly removed and others substituted in their place.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, is

In combination, a supporting board, circuit strips sccured lo said board along" the longitudinal edges thereof. lctlcrs each consisting of a casing having lamp sockets (herein and provided with terminal blocks, means for elcc trically connecting the blocks with the lamp sockets, binding scrcws extending through the letters and engaging the binding blocks thereof, and washers carried by the binding screws contacting with the circuit strips when said letters are in operative position to make the necessary electr cal connection.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto alllxcd my sire nature in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM \VALLACE.

Witnesses:

LOUIS C. Lovn, 'lnouAs S. Boo'rn. 

